Method of and apparatus for producing pottery ware



July 7, 1936.7

w. .1. MILLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCfNG"POTTERY WAREOriginal Filed March l, 1923 l7 Sheets-Sheet l M m m m WILLIAM J. MlLLERBY (My (1% oh ATTORN Y July 7, 1936."

w. J. M'ILLER.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS -FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE OriginalFiled March1, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 2 R R.E mu u W mJ M A u u A TTORN Y w. J. MILLERJuly 7, 1936.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Original Filed March1, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 3 WOW wmm 3m iv m mv INVENTOR. WILLIAM J. MILLERA TTORNEY y 1, 1936.- w. J. MILLER 2 0 6,525

., V METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE origi'nal FiledMarch 1, 1929 17 Sheeta-J-Sheet 4 ATTORNE w. J. MILLER 2,046,525 METHODOF 'AND APPARATUS FOR RODUCING POTTERY WARE July 7,1936.

17 Sheets-Sheet 5 M ATTORNEY 7 I INVENTOR. Wll1a%1dler Original FiledMarch 1, 1929 FIG. 4.

I July 7, 1936. w. -.J. MILLER 2,045,525

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Originalfiled March1, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 6 I FIG 4 QINVENTOR.

' AfroR July 7, 1936. w. J. MILLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRObUGINGPOTTERY WA Original Filed March '1, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 I0 1,1110%? I"T" olOOOOooOnqqvoooucO :I

INVENTOR.

' Will JMzller 'ATTORNEY Jul 7, 1936. A

W'. J. MILLER METHOD OF AND, APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE FIG.

FIG.9 G

Original Fild March 1, 1929 17 Sheets-Shet s IN V EN TOR.

A TTORNEY w. J. MILLER 2,046,525

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE July 7 1936;

Original Filed March l 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVEN TOR.

y 1936. w. J. MILLER 2,046,525

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Original Filed March1, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 1O 60 60 b INVENTOR. lliL i V BY m JMill er July7, 1936.

w. J. MILLER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE OriginalFiled Marph l, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet l1 mm 3 L IN V EN TOR. K3 7 L 1,! ATT ORNE Y w. J. MILLER July 7, 1936.

METHOD OF -AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Original Filed March1, 1929 17 SheetsSheet 12 Yin /II 3 4h b1 1 a G 7 H .3 JT 1 a 4 1 T m mL J F Mm \AW BV/ 4.: 7 3 1 1 1 1.71 s a F M. 2. m 3 s N 4 2 Av 11 we e FF 6 1.; 0, 4. d 8 M m w. J. MILLERH July 7, 1936.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE 1"! Sheets-Sheet 13Original Filed March IN V EN TOR.

( A TTORNW July 7, 1936. v w. J. MILLER 2,046,525

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Original Filed March1, 1929 1v Sheets-Sheet 14 Ziam JMlller BY- ATTORNEY W. J. MILLER July7, 1936.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Original Filed Marchl, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 INVENTOR. am we ATTORNEY W. J. MILLER 7 Jul7, 1936;

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE Original Filed March1, 1929 17 Sheets-Sheet l6 INVENTOR. hillziyjl ATTORNEY W. J. MILLERJuly 7, 1936.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING POTTERY WARE l7 Sheets-Sheet l7Original Filed March 1, 1929 4 mmm L I! In dw h Patented" July 7, 1-936UNITED STAT S PATENT ()FFlCE ua'rnon or arm maaa'rus ron monooma romarMalta William]. Miller, Swlslvale, Pa.

Application 6001111". This application is a continuation in part as toall divisible subject matter of my co-pendlng' applications for UnitedStates Letters Patent. now

matured into patents, viz: 1,783,197, 1,737,259,

factured more expeditiously and economically than with the knownmachinesnow in use, the apparatus possessing numerous advantageous features ofconstruction and operation inaugurated with a view toward improving thegrade of ware and at the same time facilitating volume production with aminimum amount of manual attention. In practicing the method, the moldsin which the ware is formed and fabricated are disposed on open-bottomtrays and the latter mounted in series in an endless flexible,preferably continuously-driven, conveyor .which progresses the moldsadjacent the various fabricating units and through a drier, and at suchpoints where acces sary, the trays are temporarily halted forafabricating operation, the molds being accessible from above, below andthrough the sides of the trays, reciprocable and rotatable chucksserving to elevate the molds from the trays and rotate same in operativeadacency to such of the fabricating units as may involve this operation,or the chucks may serve to simply elevate orstabilize the molds duringcertain fabricating operations, the advancing ware and/or moldsbeingtre'ated and the moisture content thereof regulated in accordancewith the successive fabricating operations.

' Thecomplete apparatus includes automaticallyoperated units orassemblies for producing were of various shapes and designs, such forexample as plates, cups, bowls, saucers and the like. means beingprovided for jiggering-or shaping certain articles of were which wouldotherwise have to be cast, thereby further eliminating manual labor andincreasing production, and only such of these unitsneed be placed inoperation as may be required n manufacturing a particular line of were,as where plates only are being manufactured, which do not requirehandles, or plain ware,

which need not be subjected to' the decorating or embellishingoperations. The drawings, however, include a machine in its entiretywith a preferred March 1. 1529, Serial No. 343.093 Renewed May 22. 1935arrangement of the various units in conJunction with a drier, andtherein:

Figs. 1a. and 1b together show a view in side elevation-of preferredarrangement of the various units of the apparatus mounted in cooperativerelation with a drier and supplemental treating chamber or drierdisposed thereon, the side wall of the lower main drier being removed.

Fi s. 2a and 2b together show a plan view of the driers and apparatus asillustrated in Figs.

10-17, the top cover frame being broken away at various points to showthe parts below.

I Fig. 3. is an end elevation of the apparatus as shown in Figs. lit-band 20-h.

Fig. 4 is a viewin sectional side elevation and to some extentdiagrammatic of a preferred form of air-conditioning apparatus for thedrier; Fig. 4A is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a portion ofthe drier looking toward the right as viewed in Fig. 3, the frame of themachine and side wall of the drier being removed to show the action ofthe air currents therein, and Fig. 4B is a similar view looking towardthe left; Fig. 4C is a detail view of a valve and nozzle assembly; Fig.4D is a miniature fragmentary view in sectional side elevation ofamodified type of drier;

Fig. 41!. is a detafl view of an air-control unit for installation inthe drying system.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of a portion ofthe conveying mechanism; Figs. 5A and 5B are similar views ofmodiflcations in structure; Fig. 5C is a view also similar to Fig. 5 ofa preferred form of driving mechanism for the ware conveying system, andFig. 5D is a broken plan view of the same; Fig. 5E is a detail GA is anenlarged fragmentary, detail, longitudinal sectional elevation of aportion .of' the tray and registering devices, showing one method ofestablishing communication with the molds for a fabricating operation;Fig. 6B is a transverse vertical sectional view of a number of traysmounted in series in a' conveyor, a deep and shallow mold also beingshown in section, and Fig. 6C is a section taken on the line 66, Fig. 6;Fig. 6D is a detail sectional view of a modified form of tray andconveyor trunnion construction, and Fig. GE is a view taken on the line6--6, Fig. 6D; Fig. 6F is I a detail view of a positioning stud for usewith the 56 2 trays; Figs. 6G to 6K, inclusive, are detail views ofmodifications in parts'which may be used in a preferred form of mold forcups or deep ware,

'of clay to the molds.

and Fig.8Ais a similar view of a mold for, shallow:

ware: Figs. 83, 8C, 8D, and 8E are fragmentary sectional views ofvarious types of molds and cooperating parts; Fig. 8F is a view similarto Figs. 8 and 8A of a mold for undercut articles such as insulators;Fig. 8G "is a transverse vertical sectional view, partly in elevation,of a partible mold particularly adapted for automatic application ofhandles and like appendages to the ware. and Fig. 8B is a view taken onthe line 8 -8 Fig. Fig. 81 is a plan view of another form of partiblemold; Figs. 8J and 8J are, re spectively, side elevation and plan viewsof a boxing form; Fig. 8K is-a plan viewof a partible vmold for undercutware, and Fig.- 8L is a sectional view taken on the line 8 8, Fig. 8K. 1

Figure 9 is a view in section and side elevation of a mold-actuating orjigger assembly, and Fig. 9A is a horizontal sectional plan view takenon the line 9 -9, Fig. 9; Fig. 9B is a view in side elevation of anotherform of mold-actuating or jigger assembly, and Fig. 9C is a horizontalsectional plan view taken on the line 9 4, Fig. 93; Figs. 9D and 9E aredetail views of parts of the mold-actuating assembly; Fig. 9F is areduced fragmentary detail view of a drive unit; Fig. 9G is a detailview of a flexible coupling.

Figure 10 is a detail view in section. and side elevation of a valve andactuating means therefor, employed for controlling the application ofsub and super-atmosphere and analogous fluid mediums.

Figure 11 is a transverse vertical sectional view of a mold andware-treating nozzle member.

Figures 12 and 12A are detail views in section of detent or latchmembers used in the appara- Figure 13 is a transverse vertical sectionalview of the clay-progressing and compacting means forming part of theassembly for feeding charges Fig. 13A is an end view thereof, and Fig.133 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig.13A; Fig. is a plan view ofthe extruding means forming part of the feeder assembly, Fig; 13D is aview principally in transverse vertical section thereof, and Fig. 13E isan enlarged transverse vertical section of a portionv of Fig. 13D; Figs.13F and 13G are views similar to Fig. 13E of attachments for the feeder;Figs.

13H, 131, and 13J are views in section illustrating the feedingoperation; Fig. 13K is a transverse vertical sectional view of a furtherform of attachment for the feeder. I

Figure 14 is a view in front elevation of a tool or attachment carriageassembly to which various fabricating tools and attachments are applied,Fig. 14A is a view thereof in side elevation, and Fig. 14A is a'detailfragmentary view of parts of the assembly; Fig. 143 is an enlargedsectional 'by Figs. 17D and 17E are mounted thereon; Fig.

carriage assembly, and Fig. 14E isa detail view of thecams-for Fig. 14E.I

Figure 15 is a view in front elevation of. the proflle and-trimmerassembly, and Fig. 15A is a broken side oredge elevation of a portionthere- 5 of as viewed from the left; Fig. 15B is a view similar to'Fig.15 of a modification in structure partly-broken away to show thetrimmer, and Fig. 15Cis a plan view thereof, only a fragment of theproflle being shown; Fig. 15D is a trans- 1o verse vertical sectionalview of a profile assembly constructed to permit feeding of materialtherethrough; Fig. 15E is a view in elevation of a set of cams which maybe used for the carriage assembly when the profile and trimmer assemblyof 15 Fig. '15 is mounted thereon.

Figure 16 is a broken plan view of a preferred form ofexcess-material-removing assembly, and I Fig. 16A is-a transversevertical section taken on the line l6 -i6', Fig. 16; Fig. 163 is a view20 similar to Fig. 16 of a modification in structure; Fig. 16C isfafragmentary elevation of a slight modification in the mounting of theclay-removing means, and Fig. 16D is a sectional view taken on the linele -li Fig. 16C.

Figure 17 is a view in section and side elevation' of an-additionalmaterial or slip-applying and ware-decorating assembly, other parts ofthis assembly being included in Fig. 20; Fig. 17A is an end view of partof the apparatus shown'in Fig.1! as indicated by the line I'l -i1, Fig.17; Fig. 173 is an enlarged end view taken on the line H -i1, Fig. 1'7,and Fig. is a sectional view taken on the line l'|=--ii, Fig. 173; Figs.17D, 17E and 17F are views in transverse vertical section and elevationof decorating attachments for use with the ware-decorating assembly, andFig. l'lDE is a detafl view of the cams for use with the carriageassembly when the attachments shown 40 176 is a transverse verticalsectional view of an undercutting attachment and mold adapted therefor;Fig. 17H is a view similar to Fig. 17G ofa ware-reshaping attachment,and Fig. 17H shows a cam for the carriage assembly when said attachmentis mounted thereon; Fig. 1'71 is a diagrammatic illustration to clarifythe operation of the decorating assembly.

Figures 18 to 18D, inclusive, are transverse vertical sectional views ofgrip chucks for use in transferring ware and various other fabricatingoperations, and Fig. 18E is a fragmentary sectional view of anattachment used for conducting air or analogous fluid mediums to saidchucks.

Figure 19 is a view in front elevation of a were turning and flnishingassembly, Figs.,19A and '19B'ar, respectively,views in side elevationand top plan of the same, and Fig. 19AB, is a view in elevation of thecams for the. carriage when the 60 assembly shown by Figs. 19, 19A and19B is mounted thereon; Fig. 19C is a side elevation of another form ofware turning and finishing assembly, Figs. 19D and 19E are,respectively, views in front elevation and top plan of the same, and 65Fig. E is a view in elevation of the cams for the carriage when theassembly shown by Figs. 19C, 19D and 19E is mounted thereon; Fig. 19F isa front elevation of a ware swabbing and edgefinishing assembly, Fig.19G is a side elevation 70 thereof, partly in section, and Fig. 19FG isa view in elevation of the cams for the carriage when the assembly shownby Figs. 19F and 19G is mounted thereon; Fig. 19H is a front elevationof a further form of were turning and finishing 75 assembly, Fig. 191 isa side elevation thereof, and Fig. 19111 is a view in elevation of thecams for the carriage when the assembly shown by Figs. 1911 and 1911smounted thereon; Fig. 19.! is a detail view of the tool used in theassembly shown by Figs. 19H and 191; Figs. 19K and 19L are views intransverse vertical, section of tools used in turning and finishing thebottoms of shallow ware and the interior of deep ware.

Figure 20 is a view in section and side elevation of a charge-applyingand measuring device and cooperating parts adapted for use with the as-I sembly shown by Fig. 17 and also for charging the appendage or handlemolds, and Fig. 20A is a transverse vertical sectional view of a nozzlemember adapted for use with the charge-applying and measuring devicewhen charging said molds.

The various fabricating units which go to make up the complete machineshould be mounted in such order along the fabricating line as willpermit each operation to be performed in proper sequence in accordancewith the article of ware being produced, and the frame of the apparatusis constructed to permit interchanging of the said units as desired. InFigs. la -=1) the units are arranged so that the molds are first cleanedat A (by nozzles as shown in Fig.11), the clay charges fed to the moldsat B (by the devices shown in Figs. 9B-13 to 13K), the charges preparedfor the profile by being preformed or having additionalmaterial appliedthereto at C (by the means shown in Figs. 9B13D to 13K14- 1sn 1'z-1m to17F) ,'this unit being usedonly in certain instances,the charges shapedor profiled to form same into ware at D (by the means shown in Figs. 9to 9F and 16 to 16D), the waretreated (by the nozzles shown in Fig. 11)in preparation for decoration or incrustation work at E, the warereshaped or decorated at F (by the means shown in Figs. 9 to 9F, 17,l'lD to 171) after. whichthe ware moves into the drier. If

cups or analogous ware which require turning and finishing and/orhandles are being produced in one or more lines, this ware is conveyedthrough the drier until in a leather-hard state and then transferredfrom the main drier to the supplemental drier or treating chamber andturned and finished while undergoing transfer at G (by the means shownin Figs. 19 -19L), the handles applied at H (by the means shown in Figs.8G to 8.1, 20, 20A) the ware transferred to the boxing forms at I and I(as indicated in Fig. 1a by the means shown in Figs. 8J-8J, 14 to 143,18 to 18E) Q the ware inspected at J the boxed and inspected .wareretransferred back to the main drier at K (by the means shown in Figs.8J, U, 14 to MD, "18 to 18E) and conveyed therethrough until dry,passing out of the main drier and treated or cleaned at L (by the meansshown in Figs. 11,

,17F), and finally the ware is transferred to the wars conveyors at R(by the means shown in Figs. 14 to 14E, 18 to 18E), which convey theware to the kiln for firing; while in the case of plates and analogous.ware which may not require turning and/or handles and like appendages,this ware completes the cycle through the main drier withoutinterruption untildry, then passes out of the main drier and may becleaned or otherwise treated at L, the bottoms finished at M (by themeans shown in Figs. 14 to 143, 19K), the edges and surfaces smoothed atN (by the means shown in Figs. 14 to 143, 19F, 19G, 19FG, 18 to 18E),and if the ware is to be decorated, it is again treated at 0 (by themeans shown in Figs. l111F) to prepare it for the decorating unitlocated at P and shown in detail in Figs. 17D to 17F, 17H, finallytreated or cleaned at Q (by means shown in Figs. 1111F) after which itis also transferred to the were conveyor at R and conveyed to the kilnfor It will be understood that the foregoingsequentlalarrangement andoperation of the various units is adoptedmerely for the purposes ofillustration and may be varied at will, the apparatus being soconstructed that the units are interchangeable, as previously specified,so that they may be readily arranged in proper sequence in accordancewith the ware to be manufactured.

Drier While any type of ceramic drier may be used in practicing thepresent method, it is preferred to adopt a system .of air-circulationand conditioning apparatus similar to that which is more or lessdiagrammatically illustrated in Figs. 111-!) to 40, inclusive, andwhereby the temperature, humidity, volume, direction of flow andvelocity of the air in the whole or any part of the drier may beregulated, the drier being arranged in zones and the air selectivelycirculated and re- "circulated in the zones until spent, then withdrawnand reconditioned and again circulated, heat and moisture beingconstantly extracted from the circulating air and used in reconditioningthe spent air and incoming atmospheric air.

First referring to Fig.4, the numeral 5 designates a maintemperature-regulating chamber of an air conditioning apparatus. thelower portion thereof opening into a main humidity-regulating chamber6'. An air-circulating and pressure reg: ulating unit 1 is shown mountedat one extremity of the chamber 6, this unit comprising aspeed-'regulable reversible motor having a fan or screw detachablysecured on the armature shaft, the latter having bearing in anexternallythreaded sleeve ml The unit is shown in detail in Fig. 4E andmay be readily installed in any of the air conduits ofv the system or inthe wall of the drier by simply threading the sleeve Ia into the conduitor wall. These units control the super and sub-atmospheric pressure ofthe cirdividually-controlled heating elements or coils .9, sprayingmeans l0 which may be fed with water from a suitable source and thewater heated or cooled and under automatic control, and bailies llagainst which the saturated air is directed, the excess spray notabsorbed by the air falling onto a drain pan or trough i2 and drainingoil. through a valved pipe l3, which may conduct the spray water back tothe source of supply for further use. The main chamber 5 also containssuperheating coils I4, which maybe used to bring the air to a highertemperature before leaving the main chamber '5, and a heat tion andcirculation of spent air from the drying apparatus. The one extremity ofthe coil l5 opens into a supplemental humidity-control chamber it, whichmay also be provided with .70 and moisture-extracting coil i5 for theintroduc-

